Updated: Bangkok bomb

Like everyone else, PPT has read news of the bombing in Bangkok, wondering about cause and motivations. We have nothing to add to the rather scanty reports. Yet, we note two things about the reporting.

First, the police and military have not sprung to an immediate conclusion. Usually, the authorities are prone to quickly declare the likely perpetrators.

This is not the case with this bombing.

Second, as reported at The Nation, the junta’s cabinet did not discuss the bombing at all when it met on Tuesday. Given that this bomb had some 25 casualties, it is a significant event. It is reported that “Army chief and NCPO [junta] secretary Gen Chalermchai Sittisart said Prime Minister and NCPO head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha merely ordered tighter security in public areas. There was no further discussion of the incident, Chalermchai said.”